I haven’t confirmed nor denied contesting NDC flagbearership – Spio-Garbrah

• Posted on June 6, 2017June 6, 2017
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Former Trade and Industry Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah has denied allegation that he has pulled out from the race of the Presidential slot for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) due to former President Mahama’s intention to contest again.

According to him, he is taken aback by such an allegation that if former President Mahama will contest again as the Flagbearer for the NDC, he [Spio-Garbrah] will rescind his intention to contest for the same position.

His comment was borne out of the assumption by the host of Okay FM’s Morning Show, Kwame Nkrumah Tikese that former President Rawlings in his June 4 celebration speech insinuated that if possible former President Mahama should not lead the party again as he is considered ‘a lame rider on a lame horse’.

In this instance, the host of ‘Ade Akye Abia’ on Okay FM inquired from Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah whether he will consider contesting for the Presidential slot of his party as he [Spio-Garbrah] had earlier said he won’t contest should former President Mahama contest again.

“I don’t know where you heard this from that if President Mahama contests again, I won’t contest him. It is the media houses which are carrying out this misinformation and misrepresentation of what I actually said. I have not said anything anywhere,” he denied.

He explained to have rather said during an interview with Radio XYZ that “President Mahama was the leader of our party and the President of Ghana and so those who want to contest the presidential slot should give him that courtesy to either renounce or confirm his intention to contest again before they join the race.”

“I said on Radio XYZ that, whether former President Mahama contests again or not, there will be competition for the position,” he indicated.

Dr. Spio-Garbrah akin the current NDC situation to an accident car parked on a cement block at the mechanic shop which needs its missing parts replaced and in good shape before considering who the driver of the repaired car becomes.

“I was asked whether I will contest and I replied that the NDC is like an accident car parked at the mechanic shop; it is parked on a cement block without a starter and battery and we are going to look for its missing parts. It needs a transmission and so many spare parts. The car must be in good shape and it cannot be repaired in one week or two; it can take one whole year to get it repaired,” he explained.

He held the view that NDC like any damaged car needs to be repaired first before the party can think of the person who can best drive the car; thus the thought of looking for the driver before repairing the car might disturb and distort the party’s priorities.

“If we allow people to compete for the driver position, we might forget to repair the damaged car. This will disturb and distort the party’s priorities; this is what I said. I have not said anywhere that I won’t contest or will contest. I know some people just want to write anything which please them in what I said,” he added.

He emphasized that in the speech of former President Rawlings, there was no mention of a name considered as ‘lame rider on a lam horse’, hence he cannot explain the meaning of that statement.

-PFM